Fraud preventing coin handling device



Feb. 24, 1979 G. F. ERICKSON 3,497,049

FRAUD PREVENTING COIN HANDLING DEVICE Filed March 4:, 1968 United States Patent 3,497,049 FRAUD PREVENTING COIN HANDLING DEVICE Gustav F. Erickson, St. Louis County, Mo., assignor to National Rejectors, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Mar. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 710,320 Int. Cl. G07f 3/02, 3/04 US. Cl. 194-97 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to improvements in coin-handling devices. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in coin-handling devices which can separate milled coins from coins or slugs which do not have milling at the peripheries thereof.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved coin-handling device which can separate milled coins from coins or slugs which do not have milling at the peripheries thereof.

The present invention is an improvement upon the invention disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 622,616 for Coin-Handling Device which was filed Mar. 13, 1967. The present invention disposes a coin-intercepting element adjacent a coin passageway to apply reaction forces, to some coins or slugs passing through that coin passageway, which are directed oppositely of the direction of movement followed by said coins or slugs as they approach said coin-intercepting element; and those reaction forces facilitate separation of milled coins from coins or slugs which do not have milling at the peripheries thereof. That coin-intercepting element has one end thereof secured to a support and has the other end thereof extending, in cantilever fashion, toward coins and slugs which are moving along that coin passageway toward that coin-inter'ceptin g element. That other end of that coin-intercepting element will receive action forces from all coins or slugs which engage it; but, because that other end is thin enough to extend into the spaces between adjacent ridges of the milling at the periphery of a milled coin, that other end will receive action forces from milled coins which are much greater than the action forces which that other end will receive from coins or slugs that do not have milling at the peripheries thereof. The said coin-intercepting element will respond to the action forces which coins or slugs apply to the said other end thereof to apply reaction forces to those coins or slugs; and, because the action forces which milled coins apply to that other end of that coin-intercepting element are much greater than are the action forces which un-rnilled coins or slugs apply to that other end, the reaction forces which the other end of that coin-intercepting element applies to milled coins are much greater than the reaction forces which that other end applies to unmilled coins or slugs. The coin-handling device provided by the present invention applies reaction forces to milled coins which are greater than the forces which the coin-handling device of the said application applies to milled coins; and those reaction forces enable the coinhandling device provided by the present invention to attain an even more certain and consistent separation of Patented Feb. 24, 1970 milled coins from un-milled coins than does the coin-handling device of the said application. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a coin-handling device with a coin-intercepting element that is mounted in cantilever fashion and is disposed adjacent a coin passageway to apply reaction forces, to some coins or slugs passing through that coin passageway, which are directed oppositely of the direction of movement followed by said coins or slugs as they approach said coin-handling device.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partially-sectioned, front elevational view of one portion of a coin-handling device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, and a dash-dot line therein indicates the path followed by milled coins,

FIG. 2 is a view which .is similar to FIG. 1, but the dash-dot line therein indicates the path followed by coins and slugs which do not have milling at the peripheries thereof,

FIG. 3 is a partially-sectioned, rear elevational view of another portion of the coin-handling device shown in FIG. 1, and the dash-dot line therein shows the path followed by milled coins, and

FIG. 4 is a view which is similar to FIG. 3, but the dash-dot line therein indicates the path followed by coins and slugs which do not have milling at the peripheries thereof.

Components of coin-handling device Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 21 generally denotes the main plate of one preferred embodiment of coin-handling device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention; and that embodiment of coin-handling device is presently being marketed by National Rejectors, Inc. of St. Louis, M0,, U.S.A. as its 81l5 Series Rejector. That main plate has a fulllength, vertically-directed flange 23 extending forwardly from the right-hand edge of the front face thereof, as shown by FIGS. 1 and 2; and it has a shorterlength, vertically-directed flange 25 extending rearwardly from the rear face thereof, as shown by FIGS. 3 and 4. A boss 31 is formed at the right-hand side of the front face of the main plate 21, and that boss abuts the flange 23. A similar boss 41 is mounted directly under the boss 31; and those bosses have notches therein which accommodate the pivot, not shown, for the gate of that coin-handling device. A horizontally-directed slot 47 is formed in the main plate 21 intermediate the bosses 31 and 41; and that slot extends to, but does not extend through, the flange 23.

A vertically-directed boss the front face of the main located in the upper left-hand portions of FIGS. 1 and 2. That boss constitutes part of the coin-receiving entrance for the coin-handling device shown in FIGS. 1-4. A cylindrical boss 51 extends forwardly from the front face of the main plate 21 at a point below and to the right of the boss 49. An opening 53 is provided in the main plate 21 to the left of the boss 41, as that opening and boss are viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. An arcuate slot 55 is provided in the main plate 21 to the right of the bosses 49 and 51, as those bosses are viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

49 extends forwardly from plate 21, and that boss is The numeral 57 denotes an operating lever which is mounted on a pivot, not shown, that extends forwardly from the front face of the main plate 21; and a screw 59 etxends through an opening in that operating lever and seats in a threaded socket in that pivot to prevent accidental separation of that operating lever from that pivot. A torsion spring 63 is wound around the pivot for the operating lever 57; and that spring has one end thereof underlying the boss 49 While the other end thereof underlies a portion of that operating lever. That spring biases the operating lever 57 for rotation in the counter clockwise direction in FIGS. 1 and 2, but it can yield to permit rotation of that operating lever in the clockwise direction.

The numeral 65 denotes a runway which is mounted on the gate, not shown, of the coin-handling device of FIGS. l-4; and that runway inclines downwardly from upper left to lower right in FIGS. 1 and 2. A deflector 67 is mounted to the right of the lower end of the runway 65, and that deflector can be set at different positions along the length of the slot 47. The numeral 75 denotes a support which is mounted adjacent the opening 53 in the main plate 21; and that support can be set at different distances from the flange 23. A pivot 77 is carried by the support 75, and that pivot rotatably supports a separator 79; and the coin-receiving portion of that separator extends forwardly through the opening 53. A wall 85 is disposed forwardly of the lower portion of the front face of the main plate 21 to define chutes for coins which have moved downwardly along that front face; and one of those chutes is an accepted chute 89 while the other of those chutes is a rejected coin chute 93. The main plate 21, the flanges 23 and 25, the bosses 31, 41, 49 and 51, the slot 47, the opening 53, the arcuate slot 55, the operating lever 57, the screw 59, the spring 63, the runway 65, the deflector 67, the support 75, the pivot 77, the separator 79, the wall 85, the accepted coin chute 89, and the rejected coin chute 93 are similar to the corresponding elements shown and described in the said application; and they are not, per se, novel.

The numeral 95 denotes a cylindrical recess in the front face of the main plate 21 which accommodates a cylindrical pivot, not shown, at the rear of a lever which is generally denoted by the numeral 97. That lever has a short, straight portion which extends downwardly and to the right from the recess 95 at a sharp angle, and it has a longer, straight portion which extends to the right at a shallow angle. The short, straight portion and the longer, straight portion of the lever 97 coact to subtend an obtuse angle of less than one hundred and twenty degrees. A projection extends downwardly from the bottom of the longer, straight portion of the lever 97; and that projection has a notch therein which accommodates one end of a strip of metal which constitutes a coin-intercepting element 99. That coin-intercepting element extends to the left, in cantilever fashion, from the notch in the projection which extends downwardly from the bottom of the longer, straight portion of the lever 97; and the free end of that coin-intercepting element is provided with a downwardly-inclined tip. The coin-intercepting element 99 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as being relatively thick; but, in actual practice, that coin-intercepting element is quite thin. Specifically, in the said one preferred embodiment of coin-handling device of the present invention, that coin-intercepting element is less than five thousandths of an inch thick. As a result, the tip of the free end of that coin-intercepting element is able to extend into the spaces between adjacent ridges of the milling at the periphery of a milled coin. The coin-intercepting element 99 can be bent, but it is stiff to be able to respond to action forces applied to the tip thereof by coins or slugs to apply substantially the same action forces to the projection which extends downwardly from the bottom of the longer, straight portion of the lever 97.

The numeral 101 denotes the position of a milled coin which is rolling along the runway 65 at the time the periphery of that milled coin initially engages the tip of the coin-intercepting element 99. The numeral 103 denotes the position of that milled coin as it forces the coin-intercepting element 99 to move upwardly to move the lever 97 upwardly. The numeral 113 denotes the position of the milled coin after that coin has moved beyond, and out of engagement with, the coin-intercepting element 99, and has fallen downwardly into engagement with the coin-receiving portion of the separator 79; and the numeral 115 denotes the position of that milled coin as that coin is rolling off of the coin-receiving portion of that separator and is moving into the accepted coin chute 89.

The numeral 117 in FIG. 2 denotes the position of a coin or slug which does not have milling at the periphery thereof as that coin or slug has raised the coin-intercepting element 99 and the lever 97, and is passing beneath the tip of that coin-intercepting element. The numeral 119 denotes the position of the unmilled coin or slug as that coin or slug has passed beyond, and out of engagement with, the coin-intercepting element 99, and has engaged the rebounding surface of the deflector 67. The numeral 133 denotes the position of the un-milled coin or slug after that coin or slug has rebounded from the rebounding surface of the deflector 67 and has engaged the coin-receiving portion of the separator 79; and the numeral 135 denotes the position of that unmilled coin or slug as that coin or slug rolls off of the coin-receiving portion of the separator 79 and moves into the rejected coin chute 93.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the numeral 149 denotes a boss which extends rearwardly from the rear face of the main plate 21; and that boss is disposed to the left of the upper end of the flange 25. The upper end of a movable wall 151 is disposed between the boss 149 and the upper end of flange 25; and that movable wall has a horizontally-directed pivot 159 thereon which rotatably supports a roller 165. A runway 167 and a further runway 169 are provided at the forward face of that movable wall adjacent the bottom of that movable wall. Those runways normally abut the rear face of the main plate 21; and that main plate and the movable wall 151 normally coact to define a coin passageway for coins or slugs which move downwardly into engagement with, and then roll along, those runways. A latch 171 is mounted adjacent the movable wall 151; and that latch and that movable wall are held in assembled relation with the boss 149 and the flange 25 by a pivot, not shown. A torsion spring 173 encircles that pivot, and it has one end thereof bearing against the movable wall 151 while having the other end thereof underlying and bearing against the latch 171. That latch will normally be in substantial parallelism with the movable wall 151; and, at such time, will hold that movable wall adjacent and in parallelism with the rear face of the main plate 21. However, the latch 171 can be shifted to the right in FIGS. 3 and 4, and can then have the lower end thereof rotated away from the rear face of the main plate 21 to permit the movable wall 151 to be rotated away from that rear face.

The numeral 175 denotes an opening in the main plate 21; and that opening is disposed immediately above the level of the runway 167. That opening is intended to permit coins or slugs, which are considerably smaller in diameter than coins which are intended to roll along the runways 167 and 169, to fall through that opening and pass to the rejected coin chute 93 of the coin-handling device. A cylindrical pivot 177 extends rearwardly from the rear face of the main plate 21; and that pivot is disposed above the level of the upper edge of the opening 175. A lever, which is generally denoted by the numeral 179, has an opening therein that telescopes over the pivot 177 so that lever can be rotated relative to that pivot. That lever has a pin 181 which extends rearwardly from the rear face thereof; and it has a socket 183 which is disposed below the level of, and to the left of, the pin 181. A stop 185 and a stop 187 are formed on the lever 179 to the left of the socket 183; and the stop 185 is disposed above the level of the stop 187. A lever 189 has a rounded right-hand end which extends into the socket 183 in the lever 179; and the lever 189 can freely oscillate between an upper position defined by the stop 185 and a lower position defined by the stop 187. The upper position of the lever 189 is shown by solid lines in FIG. 4, and the lower position of that lever is shown by solid lines in FIG. 3. The free end of that lever holds one end of a strip of metal which constitutes a coin-intercepting element 191; and that coin-intercepting element extends to the right, in cantilever fashion, from the free end of that lever. The free end of that coin-intercepting element has a downwardly-inclined tip. Although the coin-intercepting element 191 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 as being relatively thick, that coin-intercepting element is less than five thousandths of an inch thick in the said one preferred embodiment of coin-handling device of the present invention.

The numeral 199' denotes a boss which extends rearwardly from the rear face of the main plate 21, and that boss is disposed to the left of the pivot 177. That boss acts as a stop which limits clockwise rotation of the lever 179 about the pivot 177. A connecting rod 205 has an opening in the lower end thereof which telescopes over the pin 181 on the lever 179; and the upper end of that connecting rod is suitably connected to the operating lever 57. That connecting rod has a camming surface 241 thereon which is disposed adjacent the roller 165 which is mounted on the pivot 159 carried by the movable wall 151. A spring, not shown, normally holds the connecting rod 205 in the raised position shown by FIGS. 3 and 4, but that spring can yield to permit that connecting rod to move downwardly when the operating lever 57 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A wall, not shown, is mounted adjacent the rear face of the main plate 21; and that wall supports a deflector 213. That deflector can be set at different positions relative to that wall; and thus can be set closer to, or farther away from, the lower end of the runway 169. The said wall has an opening 215 therein, and the coin-receiving portion of a separator 217 extends forwardly through that opening into the coin passageway defined by the said wall and the rear face of the main plate 21. A guide 219 is provided at the front face of the said wall; and that guide has one surface thereon which inclines downwardly to the left from the coin-receiving portion of the separator 217, and has a second surface thereon which inclines downwardly to the right from that coin-receiving portion. The surface of the guide 219 which inclines downwardly to the left from the coin-receiving portion of the separator 217 extends toward an accepted coin chute 221, while the surface on that guide which inclines downwardly to the right from that coin-receiving surface extends toward a rejected coin chute 223.

The numeral 225 denotes the position of a milled coin which is rolling along the runway 169 at the time the periphery of that milled coin initially engages the tip of the coin-intercepting element 191. The numeral 227 denotes the position of that milled coin as it forces the coin-intercepting element 191 to move upwardly to move the lever 189 upwardly. The numeral 229 denotes the position of the milled coin after that coin has moved beyond, and out of engagement with, the coin-intercepting element 191, and has fallen downwardly into engagement with the coin-receiving portion of the separator 217; and the numeral 231 denotes the position of that milled coin as that coin is rolling along the left-hand surface of the guide 219 toward the accepted coin chute 221.

The numeral 233 in FIG. 4 denotes the position of a coin or slug which does not have milling at the periphery thereof as that coin or slug has raised the coin-intercepting element 191 and the lever 189, and is passing beneath the tip of that coin-intercepting element. The numeral 235 denotes the position of the un-milled coin or slug as that coin or slug has passed beyond, and out of engagement with, the coin-intercepting element 191, and has engaged the rebounding surface of the deflector 213. The numeral 237 denotes the position of the un-milled coin or slug afte rthat coin or slug has rebounded from the rebounding surface of the deflector 213 and has engaged the coinreceiving portion of the separator 217; and the numeral 239 denotes the position of that un-milled coin or slug as that coin or slug is rolling along the right-hand surface of the guide 219 toward the rejected coin chute 223.

Operation of portion of coin-handling device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 In the said preferred embodiment of coin-handling device provided by the present invention, a coin such as a Canadian or United States twenty-five cent piece will pass downwardly through the coin entrance which is defined, in part, by the boss 49, and will then be intercepted by a cradle, not shown. That cradle will test the diameter and weight of that coin; and, if that diameter and weight are essentially the same as the diameter and weight of an authentic Canadian or United States twentyfive cent piece, that cradle will rotate to transfer that coin to the runway 65. That coin will then roll along the runway 65 and move into engagement with the tip at the free end of the coin-intercepting element 99, as indicated by the numeral 101. That coin will have both potential energy and kinetic energy as the periphery thereof engages that tip; and, as that tip enters the space between adjacent ridges of the milling at the periphery of that coin, one of those ridges will apply action forces to that tip which will develop compressive forces within that coin-intercepting element. While that coin-intercepting element may flex or bend, it will be stiff enough to transmit the action forces, which the ridge of that coin applies to the tip of that coin-intercepting element, to the lever 97; and that lever will respond to those action forces to start rotating in the counter clockwise direction. In many instances, the coin will have sufficient kinetic energy, as it reaches the position 101, to apply forces to the tip of the coin-intercepting element 99 which are great enough to cause that coin-intercepting element and the lever 97 to move upwardly until the free end of that lever engages the under surface of the boss 31. As the free end of that lever approaches the boss 31, the tip of the coinintercepting element 99 will move upwardly beyond the tip of the ridge, at the periphery of the milled coin, which engaged it; and, as that lever subsequently rebounds from its engagement with the under surface of that boss, the tip of that coin-intercepting element will engage a further ridge at the milled periphery of the coin. Depending upon the speed of the coin and the depth of the milling at the periphery thereof, the tip of the coin-intercepting element 99 may engage one, two, three, four or even more ridges of the milling at the periphery of that coin. Each time the tip of the coin-intercepting element 99 engages a ridge at the periphery of the milled coin, that coin-intercepting element will apply a reaction force to that coin; and that reaction force will be directed oppositely of the direction of movement followed by the coin as it approaches that coin-intercepting element.

The milled coin will lose kinetic energy as it raises the coin-intercepting element 99 and the lever 97 upwardly; and, in some instances, that milled coin may lose enough kinetic energy to momentarily come to rest. However, the potential energy in that milled coin will force that coin to move to the right in FIG. 1 whenever the tip of the coin-intercepting element 99 is out of engagement with a ridge of the milling at the periphery of that coin; and hence that milled coin will be able to move to the position 103 wherein it moves the coin-intercepting element 99 and the lever 97 up into the dotted line position shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, that milled coin will pass beneath and beyond the tip of the coin-intercepting element 99 and fall from the runway 65. The residual energy in the milled coin will then cause that coin to follow the dash-dot line, shown in FIG. 1, to position 113that coin passing to the left of the deflector 67 and not engaging that deflector as it moves to that position. As the milled coin reaches position 113, the periphery of that coin will engage the coin-receiving portion of separator 79 and the center of mass of that coin will be dis posed to the right of a vertical line passing through that coin-receiving portion. The separator 79 will rotate in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 1 to absorb some of the kinetic energy in the milled coin and to minimize bouncing of that coin; and, after that coin has rotated that separator in that direction, that coin will roll off of that separator and pass into the accepted coin chute 89. If a milled coin should happen to have suflicient kinetic energy, as it leaves the end of the runway 65, to brush against the deflector 67, that coin will not be deflected far enough to the left in FIG. 1 to keep it from entering the accepted coin chute 89.

As the coin-intercepting element 99 and the lever 97 are moved upwardly, by the action forces which ridges of the milling at the periphery of a coin apply to the tip of that coin-intercepting element, that coin-intercepting element and that lever will cause that tip to apply reaction forces to that coin. Those reaction forces will either keep that coin from moving into engagement with the deflector 67 or will keep that coin from approaching that deflector at an angle and speed which will enable that deflector to deflect that coin into the rejected coin chute 93. The overall result is that the tip of the coin-inter cepting element 99 will apply reaction forces to milled coins which will keep those coins from being deflected into the rejected coin chute 93 by the deflector 67.

An un-milled coin or slug, which is introduced into the coin-handling device of FIGS. 1 and 2, will pass downwardly through the coin entrance which is defined, in part, by the boss 49, and will then be intercepted and held by the cradle, not shown. If that coin or slug has essentially the same weight and diameter as an authentic Canadian or United States twenty-five cent piece, that coin or slug will cause that cradle to transfer it to the runway 65. That coin or slug will then roll along the runway 65 and move into engagement with the tip at the free end of the coin-intercepting element 99. That coin or slug will have both potential and kinetic energy as the periphery thereof engages that tip; and that energy will be sufficient to enable that coin or slug to apply action forces to that coin-intercepting element which will develop compressive forces within that coin-intercepting element. While that coin-intercepting element may flex or bend, it will be stiff enough to transmit the action forces, which the periphery of that un-milled coin or slug applies to it, to the lever 97; and that lever will respond to those action forces to start rotating in the counter clockwise direction. The action forces which an un-milled coin or slug will apply to the coin-intercepting element 99 will be smaller than the action forces which a milled coin will apply to that coin-intercepting element; but those action forces can, depending upon the speed of that un-milled coin or slug and upon the presence or absence of rough areas on the periphery of that coin, raise that coin-intercepting element and the lever 97 up wardly appreciable distances. The tip of the coin-intercepting element 99 will apply reaction forces to the unmilled coin or slug, and those reaction forces will be directed oppositely of the direction of movement followed by that coin or slug as it approaches that coinintercepting element.

The action forces which an u-milled coin or slug applies to the tip of the coin-intercepting element 99 will cause that coin-intercepting element and the lever 97 to move up to, and may cause them to move up beyond, the position shown in FIG. 2. That lever and that coinintercepting element will tend to move back down from that position; and the tip at the free end of that coinintercepting elemen may then remain in engagement with the periphery of that un-milled coin or slug until that periphery moves beyond that tip, or that tip may be forced to move upwardly and out of engagement with that periphery one or more additional times.

The un-milled coin or slug will lose kinetic energy as it raises the coin-intercepting element 99 and the lever 97 upwardly; but the loss of kinetic energy from an unmilled coin or slug will be far less than the loss of kinetic energy from a milled coin. As a result, the unmilled coin or slug will quickly move to the position 117 in FIG. 2. That un-milled coin or slug will quickly move beyond that position and fall from the runway 65-following the dash-dot line in FIG. 2 to position 119. In that position, the un-milled coin or slug will be engaging the left-hand face of the deflector 67; and it will move into engagement with that face at an angle and with a speed which will cause that coin or slug to rebound from that deflector and move to the position 133. In the latter position, the periphery of that un-milled coin or slug will be engaging the coin-receiving portion of the separator 79, and the center of mass of that coin or slug will be disposed to the left of a vertical line passing through that coin-receiving portion. As a result, that un-milled coin or slug will roll off of the coin-receiving portion of the separator 79 and move to position where it is entering the rejected coin chute 93.

As indicated hereinbefore, the reaction forces which the tip at the free end of the coin-intercepting element 99 applies to milled coins will either keep those coins from engaging the deflector 67 or will cause those coins to engage that deflector at such an angle and speed that the said deflector will be unable to deflect that coin into the rejected coin chute 93. As a result, the coin-intercepting element 99 will force milled coins to pass to the accepted coin chute 89. The reaction forces which the tip at the free end of the coin-intercepting element 99 applies to unmilled coins or slugs will be much smaller than the reaction forces which that tip applies to milled coins; and those reaction forces will be small enough to permit those un-milled coins or slugs to engage the deflector 67 at angles and speeds which will enable that deflector to cause those coins or slugs to rebound to the rejected coin chute 93. The difference between the reaction forces which the coin-interceping element 99 applies to milled coins and the reaction forces which that coin-intercepting element applies to un-milled coins or slugs is so great that the coin-handling device provided by the present invention separates Canadian and United States twenty-five cent pieces from un-milled coins and slugs of similar diameter and weight with a high degree of efliciency and consistency.

Operation of portion of coin-handling device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 When a milled coin, such as a Canadian or United States ten-cent piece, is introduced into the said preferred embodiment of coin-handling device, that coin will be guided into the coin passageway defined by the movable wall 151 and the rear face of the main plate 21. That coin will move downwardly into engagement with the runway 167, will roll along that runway, and then will roll onto the runway 169. That coin will continue to roll along the latter runway until the periphery thereof engages the tip at the free end of the coin-intrecepting element 191, as indicated by the numeral 225. That coin will have both potential and kinetic energy as the perrphery therof engages that tip; and, as that tip enters the space between adjacent ridges of the milling at the periphery of that coin, one of those ridges will apply action forces to that tip which will develop compressive forces within that coin-intercepting element. While that coin-intercepting element may flex or bend, it will be stiff enough to transmit the action forces, which the ridge of that coin applies to the tip of that coin-intercepting element, to the lever 189; and that lever will respond to those action forces to start rotating in the clockwise direction. -In many instances, the coin will have suflicient kinetic energy, as it reaches the position 225, to apply forces to the tip of the coin-intercepting element 191 which are great enough to cause that coin-intercepting element and the lever 189 to move upwardly until that lever engages the stop 185. As the free end of that lever approaches the stop 185, the tip of the coin-intercepting element 191 will move upwardly beyond the tip of the ridge, at the periphery of the milled coin, which engaged it; and, as that lever subsequently rebounds from its engagement with the stop 185, the tip of that coin-intercepting element will engage a further ridge at the milled periphery of the coin. Depending upon the speed of the coin and the depth of the milling at the periphery thereof, the tip of the coin-intercepting element 191 may engage one, two, three, four or even more ridges of the milling at the periphery of that coin. Each time the tip of the coin-intercepting element 191 engages a ridge at the periphery of the milled coin, that coin-intercepting element will apply a reaction force to that coin; and that reaction force will be directed oppositely of the direction of movement followed by the coin as it approaches that coin-intercepting element.

The milled coin will lose kinetic energy as it raises the coin-intercepting element 191 and the lever 189 upwardly; and, in some instances, that milled coin may lose enough kinetic energy to momentarily come to rest. However, the potential energy in that milled coin will force that coin to move to the left in FIG. 3 whenever the tip of the coin-intercepting element 191 is out of engagement with a ridge of the milling at the periphery of that coin; and hence that milled coin will be able to move to the position 227 wherein it moves the coin-intercepting element 191 and the lever 189 up into the dotted-line positions shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, that milled coin will pass beneath, and beyond, the tip of the coin-interceping element 191 and fall from the runway 169. The residual energy in the milled coin will then cause that coin to follow the dash-dot line, shown in FIG. 3, to position 229-that coin passing to the right of deflector 213 and not engaging that deflector as it moves to that position. As the milled coin reaches the position 229, the periphery of that coin will engage the coin-receiving portion of separator 217 and the center of mass of that coin will be disposed to the left of a vertical line passing through that coin-receiving portion. The separator 217 will rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 to absorb some of the kinetic energy in the milled coin and to minimize bouncing of that coin; and, after that coin has rotated that separator in that direction, that coin will roll off of that separator and pass into the accepted coin chute 221. If a milled coin should happen to have suflicient kinetic energy, as it leaves the end of the runway 169, to brush against the deflector 213, that coin will not be deflected far enough to the right in FIG. 3

to keep it from entering the accepted coin chute 221.

As the coin-intercepting element 191 and the lever 189 are moved upwardly, by the action forces which ridges of the milling at the periphery of a coin apply to the tip of that coin-intercepting element, that coin-intercepting element and that lever will cause that tip to apply reaction forces to that coin. Those reaction forces will either keep that coin from moving into engagement with the deflector 213 or will keep that coin from approaching that deflector at an angle and speed which will enable that deflector to deflect that coin into the rejected coin chute 223. The overall result is that the tip of the coin-intercepting element 191 will apply reaction forces to milled coins which will keep those coins from being deflected into the rejected coin chute 223 by the deflector 213.

An un-milled coin or slug, which is introduced into the said preferred embodiment of coin-handling device and which has a diameter and weight comparable to those of a Canadian and United States ten-cent piece, will be guided into the coin passageway defined by the movable wall 151 and the rear face of the main plate 21. That coin or slug will move downwardly into engagement with the runway 167, will roll along that runway, and will then roll onto the runway 169. That coin will continue to roll along the latter runway until the periphery thereof engages the tip at the free end of the coin-intercepting element 191. That coin or slug will have both potential and kinetic energy at the time the periphery thereof engages that tip; and that energy will be sufficient to enable that coin or slug to apply action forces to that coin-intercepting element which will develop compressive forces within that coin-intercepting element. While that coinintercepting element may flex or bend, it will be stiff enough to transmit the action forces, which the periphery of that un-milled coin or slug applies to it, to the lever 189; and that lever will respond to those action forces to start rotating in the clockwise direction. The action forces which an un-milled coin or slug will apply to the coin-intercepting element 191 will be smaller than the action forces which a milled coin will apply to that coinintercepting element; but those action forces can, depending upon the speed of that un-milled coin or slug and upon the presence or absence of rough areas on the periphery of that coin, raise that coin-intercepting element and the lever 189 upwardly appreciable distances. The tip of the coin-intercepting element 191 will apply reaction forces to the un-milled coin or slug, and those reaction forces will be directed oppositely of the direction of movement followed by that coin or slug as it approaches that coin-intercepting element.

The action forces which an un-milled coin or slug applies to the tip of the coin-intercepting element 191 will cause that coin-intercepting element and the lower lever 189 to move up to the position shown in FIG. 4. That lever and that coin-intercepting element will tend to move back down from that position; and the tip at the free end of that coin-intercepting element may then remain in engagement with the periphery of that un-milled coin or slug until that periphery moves beyond that tip, or that tip may be forced to move upwardly and out of engagement with that periphery one or more additional times.

The un-rnilled coin or slug will lose kinetic energy as it raises the coin-intercepting element 191 and the lever 189 upwardly; but the loss of kinetic energy from an unmilled coin or slug will be far less than the loss of kinetic energy from a milled coin. As a result, the unmilled coin or slug will quickly move to the position 233 in FIG. 4. That un-milled coin or slug will quickly move beyond that position and fall from the runway 169following the dash-dot line in FIG. 4 to the position 235. In that position, the un-milled coin or slug will be engaging the right-hand face of the deflector 213; and it will move into engagement with that face at an angle and with a speed which will cause that coin or slug to rebound from that deflector and move to the position 237. In the latter position, the periphery of that un-milled coin or slug will be engaging the coin-receiving portion of the separator 217, and the center of mass of that coin or slug will be disposed to the right of a vertical line passing through that coin-receiving portion. As a result, that un-milled coin or slug will roll off of the coin-receiving portion of the separator 217 and move to the position 239where it will pass to the rejected coin chute 223.

As indicated hereinbefore, the reaction forces which the tip at the free end of the coin-intercepting element 191 applies to milled coins will either keep those coins from engaging the deflector 213 or will cause those coins to engage that deflector at such an angle and speed that the said deflector will be unable to deflect that coin into the rejected coin chute 223. As a result, the coin-intercepting element 191 will force milled coins to pass to the accepted coin chute 221. The reaction forces which the tip at the free end of the coin-intercepting element 191 applies to un-milled coins or slugs will be much smaller than the reaction forces which that tip applies to milled coins; and those reaction forces will be small enough to permit those un-milled coins or slugs to engage the deflector 213 at angles and speeds which will enable that deflector to cause those coins or slugs to rebound to the rejected coin chute 223. The difference between the reaction forces which the coin-intercepting element 191 applies to milled coins and the reaction forces which that coin-intercepting element applies to un-milled coins or slugs is so great that the coin-handling device provided by the present invention separates Canadian and United States ten-cent pieces from un-milled coins and slugs of similar diameter and weight with a high degree of efliciency and consistency.

Conclusion It will be noted that the coin-intercepting element 99 and the lever 97 move whenever a milled coin or an un-milled coin or slug engages the tip of that coin-intercepting element; and similarly, it will be noted that the coin-intercepting element 191 and the lever 189 move whenever a milled coin or an un-milled coin or slug engages the tip of that coin-intercepting element. That movement is important: in minimizing bouncing of that milled coin or that un-mllled coin or slug as it engages the tip of the coin-intercepting element, in moving that coin-intercepting element out of the path of that milled coin or that un-milled coin or slug, and in developing restorative forces which help the tip of that coin-intercepting element apply reaction forces to that milled coin or that un-milled coin or slug. In the said preferred embodiment of coin-handling device, the lever 97 is made from plastic material and the right-hand end of the coin-intercepting element 99 is molded into that lever; and, similarly, the lever 189 is made from plastic material and the left-hand end of the coin-intercepting element 191 is molded into that lever. As a result, the lever 97 and the coin-intercepting element 99 constitute a light-weight, sturdy unit that is readily rotatable; and, similarly, the lever 189 and the coin-intercepting element 191 constitute a light-weight, sturdy unit that is readily rotatable.

In the event a bent coin or a coin with a ticky substance thereon were to become lodged within the coinhandling device, on or adjacent the runway 65, a patron of the machine in which that coin-handling device was mounted could free that coin by pressing downwardly on the operating lever 57. As that operating lever rotates in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will force the gate, on which the runway 65 is mounted, to move forwardly and away from the front face of the main plate 21thereby freeing that bent or sticky coin so it can fall downwardly and be directed to the rejected coin chute 93.

In the event a bent coin or a coin with a sticky substance thereon were to become lodged within the coinhandling device, on or adjacent the runway 169 or the runway 167, a patron of the machine in which that coinhandling device was mounted could free that coin by passing downwardly on the operating lever 57. As that operating lever rotates in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will force the connecting rod 205 to move downwardly-thereby forcing the camming surface 241 thereon against the roller 16S, and forcing the lever 179 to rotate in the counter clockwise direction. The roller 165 will respond to the camming surface 241 to rotate the movable wall 151 rearwardly away from the rear face of the main plate 21; and the lever 179 will move in the direction of the rejected coin chute 223. The rearward movement of the movable wall 151 plus the movement of the lever 179 toward the rejected coin chute 223 will free any bent coin or sticky coin and will sweep that coin toward that rejected coin chute. The lower edge of the lever 179 will sweep any bent or sticky coin within its path, and the lower edge of the coin-intercepting element 191 will sweep any coin which is within its path; and the overall result is that any bent or sticky coin which is within the path of the lever 179 or within the path of the coin-intercepting element 191 will be swept toward the rejected coin chute 223.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described a preferredembodiment of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, an accepted coin chute, a rejected coin chute, a separator intermediate said accepted coin chute and said rejected coin chute, a deflector for coins and slugs, a coin-intercepting element, a mounting member, and supporting means for said mounting member, said mounting member being movably mounted on said supporting means, said coin-intercepting element having one end thereof fixedly secured to said mounting member and having the other end thereof projecting from said mounting member in cantilever fashion, said coin-intercepting element being movable with said mounting member relative to said supporting means, said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element normally responding to the force of gravity to rest in a normal position but being movable by a coin or slug to moved position, said coin-intercepting element having said other end thereof disposed in said coin passageway adjacent the paths of any coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, said other end of said coin-intercepting element being positioned to be engaged by at least a part of the periphery of each of said coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway whenever said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element are in said normal position but being movable out of the paths of said coins or slugs and into said moved position by said coins or slugs and thereby moving said mounting member relative to said supporting means and into said moved position, the mass of said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element causing said other end of said coin-intercepting element to apply a reaction force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin'or slug moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin or slug and thereby moves said mounting member and said coinintercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position, the reaction force which said other end of said coin-intercepting element applies to any unmilled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin or slug and thereby moves said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position being relatively small and thus being unable to keep said coin or slug from reaching said deflector, whereby said coin or slug will engage said deflector and 'be deflected past one side of said separator and thus into said rejected coin chute, the reaction force which said other end of said coinintercepting element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin and thereby moves said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position being materially greater than said reaction force which said other end of said element applies to an unmilled coin or slug, and thus keeping said milled coin from reaching said deflector, whereby said milled coin will move past the other side of said separator and thus into said accepted coin chute, said coin-intercepting element being generally parallel to the direction of movement which a coin or slug follows as it approaches said other end of said coin-intercepting element and said other end of said coin-intercepting element extending generally oppositely of said direction of movement, whereby said coin-intercepting element applies a reaction force, to any coin or slug moving through said coin passageway, which is generally opposite of the direction of movement which said coin or slug follows as it approaches said other end of said coin-intercepting element, said one end of said coin-intercepting element being secured to said mounting member at a point eccentric of said supporting means so coins and slugs engaging said other end of said coinintercepting element apply substantial rotative forces to said coin-intercepting element and said mounting member.

2. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that'define a coin passageway, an accepted coin chute, a rejected coin chute, a separator intermediate said accepted coin chute and said rejected coin chute, a deflector for'coins and slugs, a coin-intercepting element, a mounting member, and supporting means for said mounting member, said mounting member being movably mounted on said supporting means, said coin intercepting element having one end thereof fixedly secured to said mounting member and having the other end thereof projecting from said mounting member in cantilever fashion, said coin-intercepting element being movable with said mounting member relative to said supporting means, said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element normally responding to the force of gravity to rest in a normal position but being movable by a coin or slug to moved position, said coin-intercepting element having said other end thereof disposed in said coin passageway adjacent the paths of any coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, said other end of said coin-intercepting element being positioned to be engaged by at least a part of the periphery of each of said coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway whenever said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element are in said normal position but being movable out of the paths of said coins or slugs and into said moved position by said coins or slugs and thereby moving said mounting member relative to said supporting means and into said moved position, the mass of said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element causing said other end of said coin-intercepting element to apply a reaction force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin or slug and thereby moves said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position, the reaction force which said other end of said coin-intercepting element applies to any un-milled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin or slug and thereby moves said mounting member and said coinintercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position being relatively small and thus being unable to keep said coin or slug from reaching said deflector, whereby said coin or slug will engage said deflector and be deflected past one side of said separator and thus into said rejected coin chute, the reaction force which said other end of said coin-intercepting element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin and thereby moves said mounting member and said coinintercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position being materially greater than said reaction force which said other end of said element applies to an un-milled coin or slug, and thus keeping said milled coin from reaching said deflector, whereby said milled coin will move past the other side of said separator and thus into said accepted coin chute, said coin-intercepting element being generally parallel to the direction of movement which a coin or slug follows as it approaches said other end of said coin-intercepting element and said other end of said coin-intercepting element extending generally oppositely of said direction of movement, whereby said coin-intercepting element applies a reaction force to any coin or slug moving through said coin passageway, which is generally opposite of the direction of movement which said coin or slug follows as it approaches said other end of said coinintercepting element, said one end of said coin-intercepting element being secured to said mounting member at a point eccentric of said supporting means so coins and slugs engaging said other end of said coin-intercepting element apply substantial rotative forces to said coinintercepting element and said mounting member, said supporting means being a pivot, said coin-intercepting element being thin and being longer than it is wide, and said coin-intercepting element being sufliciently stiff to transmit forces to said mounting member which will enforce movement of said mounting member to said moved position.

3. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, an accepted coin chute, a rejected coin chute, a separator intermediate said accepted coin chute and said rejected coin chute, a deflector for coins and slugs, a coin-intercepting element, a mounting member, and supporting means for said mounting member, said mounting member being movably mounted on said supporting means, said coinintercepting element having one end thereof fixedly secured to said mounting member and having the other end thereof projecting from said mounting member in cantilever fashion, said coin-intercepting element being movable With said mounting member relative to said supporting means, said mounting member and said coinintercepting element normally responding to the force of gravity to rest in a normal position but being movable by a coin or slug to moved position, said coin-intercepting element having said other end thereof disposed in said coin passageway adjacent the paths of any coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, said other end of said coin-intercepting element being positioned to be engaged by at least a part of the periphery of each of said coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway whenever said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element are in said normal position but being movable out of the paths of said coins or slugs and into said moved position by said coins or slugs and thereby moving said mounting member relative to said supporting means and into said moved position, the mass of said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element causing said other end of said coin-intercepting element to apply a reaction force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin or slug and thereby moves said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position, the reaction force which said other end of said coin-intercepting element applies to any unmilled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin or slug and thereby moves said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position being relatively small and thus being unable to keep said coin or slug from reaching said deflector, whereby said coin or slug will engage said deflector and be deflected past one side of said separator and thus into said rejected coin chute, the reaction force which said other end of said coin-intercepting element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin and thereby moves said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position being materially greater than said reaction force which said other end of said element applies to an un-milled coin or slug, and thus keeping said milled coin from reaching said deflector, whereby said milled coin will move past the other side of said separator and thus into said accepted coin chute, said coin-intercepting element being generally parallel to the direction of movement which a coin or slug follows as it approaches said other end of said coin-intercepting element and said other end of said coin-intercepting element extending generally oppositely of said direction of movement, whereby said coinintercepting element applies a reaction force to any coin or slug moving through said coin passageway, which is generally opposite of the direction of movement which coin or slug follows as it approaches said other end of said coin-intercepting element, said one end of said coin-intercepting element being secured to said mounting member at a point eccentric of said supporting means so coins and slugs engaging said other end of said coin-intercepting element apply substantial rotative forces to said coinintercepting element and said mounting member, said supporting means being a pivot, and the point of securement of said coin-intercepting element to said mounting member being disposed below the level of said supporting means, said other end of said coin-intercepting element moving generally in the direction of a coin or slug as said coin-intercepting element and said mounting member move from said normal position to said moved position.

4. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, an accepted coin chute, a rejected coin chute, a separator intermediate said accepted coin chute and said rejected coin chute, a deflector for coins and slugs, a coin-intercepting element, a mounting member, and supporting means for said mounting member, said mounting member being movably mounted on said supporting means, said coin-intercepting element having one end thereof fixedly secured to said mounting member and having the other end thereof projecting from said mounting member in cantilever fashion, said coin-intercepting element being movable with said mounting member relative to said supporting means, said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element normally responding to the force of gravity to rest in a normal position but being movable by a coin or slug to moved position, said coin-intercepting element having said other end thereof disposed in said coin passageway adjacent the paths of any coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, said other end of said coin-intercepting element being positioned to be engaged by at least a part of the periphery of each of said coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway whenever said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element are in said normal position but being movable out of the paths of said coins or slugs and into said moved position by said coins or slugs and thereby moving said mounting member relative to said supporting means and into said moved position, the mass of said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element causing said other end of said coin-intercepting element to apply a reaction force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin or slug and thereby moves said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position, the reaction force which said other end of said coin-intercepting element applies to any un-milled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin or slug and thereby moves said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position being relatively small and thus bein unable to keep said coin or slug from reaching said deflector, whereby said coin or slug will engage said deflector and be deflected past one side of said separator and thus into said rejected coin chute, the reaction force which said other end of said coin-intercepting element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin and thereby moves said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position being materially greater than said reaction force which said other end of said element applies to an un-milled coin or slug, and thus keeping said milled coin from reaching said deflector, whereby said milled coin will move past the other side of said separator and thus into said accepted coin chute, said coin-intercepting element being generally parallel to the direction of movement which a coin or slug follows as it approaches said other end of said coin-intercepting element and said other end of said coin-intercepting element extending generally oppositely of said direction of movement, whereby said coin-intercepting element applies a reaction force to any coin or slug moving through said coin passageway, which is generally opposite of the direction of movement which said coin or slug follows as it approaches said other end of said coin-intercepting element, said one end of said coin-intercepting element being secured to said mounting member at a point eccentric of said supporting means so coins and slugs engaging said other end of said coin-intercepting element apply substantial rotative forces to said coin-intercepting element and said mounting member, said supporting means being a pivot, said supporting means being disposed above said paths followed by coins and slugs passing through said coin passageway, and the point of securement of said coin-intercepting element to said mounting member being disposed below the level of said supporting means.

5. A coin-handling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting member is an elongated lever, wherein said coin-intercepting element is thin and is longer than it is wide, and wherein said coin-intercepting element is resilient and yields as coins and slugs engage said portion of said coin-intercepting element.

6. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, an accepted coin chute, a rejected coin chute, a separator intermediate said accepted coin chute and said rejected coin chute, a deflector for coins and slugs, a coin-intercepting element, a mounting member, and supporting means for said mounting member, said mounting member being movably mounted on said supporting means, said coin-intercepting element having one end thereof fixedly secured to said mounting member and having the other end thereof projecting from said mounting member in cantilever fashion, said coin-intercepting element being movable with said mounting member relative to said supporting means, said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element normally responding to the force of gravity to rest in a normal position but being movable by a coin or slug to moved position, said coin-intercepting element having said other end thereof disposed in said coin passageway adjacent the paths of any coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, said other end of said coin-intercepting element being positioned to be engaged by at least a part of the periphery of each of said coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway whenever said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element are in said normal position but being movable out of the paths of said coins or slugs and into said moved position by said coins or slugs and thereby moving said mounting member relative to said supporting means and into said moved position, the mass of said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element causing said other end of said coin-intercepting element to apply a reaction force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin or slug and thereby moves said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position, the re action force 'which said other end of said coin-intercepting element applies to any un-milled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin or slug and thereby moves said mounting member and said coin-intercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position being relatively small and thus being unable to keep said coin or slug from reaching said deflector, whereby said coin or slug will engage said deflector and be deflected past one side of said separator and thus into said rejected coin chute, the reaction force which said other end of said coin-intercepting element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said other end of said element out of the path of said coin and thereby moves said mounting member and said coinintercepting element relative to said supporting means and into said moved position being materially greater than said reaction force which said other end of said element applies to an un-milled coin or slug, and thus keeping said milled coin from reaching said deflector, whereby said milled coin will move past the other side of said separator and thus into said accepted coin chute, said coin-intercepting element being generally parallel to the direction of movement which a coin or slug follows as it approaches said other end of said coin-intercepting element and said other end of said coin-intercepting element extending generally oppositely of said direction of movement, whereby said coin-intercepting element applies a reaction force to any coin or slug moving through said coin passageway, which is generally opposite of the direction of movement which said coin or slug follows as it approaches said other end of said coin-intercepting element, said one end of said coin-intercepting element being secured to said mounting member at a point eccentric of said supporting means so coins and slubs engaging said other end of said coin-intercepting member apply substantial rotative forces to said coin-intercepting element and said mounting member, said mounting member being an elongated lever, said coin-intercepting element being thin and being longer than it is wide, and said coin-intercepting element being disposed below the level of and generally parallel to said mounting member.

7. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, a thin element that has a portion thereof disposed in said coin passageway in the paths of some coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, a pivot disposed above the level of said paths of coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, an elongated lever pivotally mounted on said pivot and having the free end thereof located beyond said pivot whereby said coins or slugs pass under said pivot as they move toward said free end of said elongated lever, and a yielding connection between said portion of said element and said free end of said elongated lever whereby said portion of said element can move relative to said free end of said elongated lever, said portion of said element normally being positioned to be engaged by at least a part of the periphery of each of said coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway but being movable out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs, said portion of said element moving relative to said free end of said elongated lever and said elongated lever rotating relative to said pivot as said coins or slugs move said portion of said element out of the paths of said coins or slugs whereby said portion of said element both rotates and translates as said coins or slugs move said portion of said element out of the paths of said coins or slugs, said portion of said element applying a retarding force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug, the retarding force which said portion of said element applies to any un-milled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug being relatively small and thus being unable to materially reduce the speed of said coin or slug whereby said coin or slug will move past said portion of said element without substantial retardation, the retarding force which said portion of said element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin being materially greater than said retarding force which said portion of said element applies to an un-milled coin or slug and mate rially reducing the speed of said milled coin, whereby said milled coin will move past said portion of said element with substantial retardation, said portion of said element being disposed so said retardation force which is applied to said coins or slugs is a reaction force which is generally opposite to the direction of movement which said coins or slugs follow as they approach said portion of said element.

8. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, a thin element that has a portion thereof disposed in said coin passageway in the paths of some coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, a pivot disposed above the level of said paths of coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, an elongated lever pivotally mounted on said pivot and having the free end thereof located beyond said pivot whereby said coins or slugs pass under said pivot as they move toward said free end of said elongated lever, and a yielding connection between said portion of said element and said free end of said elongated lever whereby said portion of said element can move relative to said free end of said elongated lever, said portion of said element normally being positioned to be engaged by at least a part of the periphery of each of said coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway but being movable out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs, said portion of said element moving relative to said free end of said elongated lever and said elongated lever rotating relative to said pivot as said coins or slugs move said portion of said element out of the paths of said coins or slugs whereby said portion of said element both rotates and translates as said coins or slugs move said portion of said element out of the paths of said coins or slugs, said portion of said element applying a retarding force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug, the retarding force which said portion of said element applies to any unmilled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug being rela tively small and thus being unable to materially reduce the speed of said coin or slug whereby said coin or slug will move past said portion of said element without substantial retardation, the retarding force which said portion of said element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin being materially greater than said retarding force which said portion of said element applies to an un-milled coin or slug and materially reducing the speed of said milled coin, whereby said milled coin will move past said portion of said element with substantial retardation, said portion of said element being disposed so said retardation ,force which is applied to said coins or slugs is a reaction force which is generally opposite to the direction of movement which said coins or slugs follow as they approach said portion of said element, said element being longer than it is wide, and said element being sufficiently stifl to transmit forces to said elongated lever which will enforce movement of said elongated lever as said element is moved out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs.

9. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, a thin element that has a portion thereof disposed in said coin passageway in the paths of some coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, a pivot disposed above the level of said paths of coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, an elongated lever pivotally mounted on said pivot and having the free end thereof located beyond said pivot whereby said coins or slugs pass under said pivot as they move toward said free end of said elongated lever, and a yielding connection between said portion of said element and said free end of said elongated lever whereby said portion of said element can move relative to said free end of said elongated lever, said portion of said element normally being positioned to be engaged by at least a part of the periphery of each of said coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway but being movable out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs, said portion of said element moving relative to said free end of said elongated lever and said elongated lever rotating relative to said pivot as said coins or slugs move said portion of said element out of the paths of said coins or slugs whereby said portion of said element both rotates and translates as said coins or slugs move said portion of said element and of the paths of said coins or slugs, said portion of said element applying a retarding force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coil or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug, the retarding force which said portion of said element applies to any un-milled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug being relatively small and thus being unable to materially reduce the speed of said coin or slug whereby said coin or slug will move past said portion of said element without substantial retardation, the retarding force which said portion of said element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin being materially greater than said retarding force which said portion of said element applies to an nn-milled coin or slug and materially reducing the speed of said milled coin, whereby said milled coin will move past said portion of said element with substantial retardation, said portion of said element being disposed so said retardation force which is applied to said coins or slugs is a reaction force which is generally opposite to the direction of movement which said coins or slugs follow as they approach said portion of said element, the point of connection of said element to said elongated lever being disposed below the level of said pivot, said portion of said element moving generally in the direction of a coin or slug when said element and said elongated lever move as said element is moved out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs.

10. A coin-handling device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said element is elongated and resilient to provide said yielding connection between said portion of said element and said free end of said elongated lever, said element flexing as it is engaged by the peripheries of coins or slugs moving in said coin passageway, said element being fixedly secured to said elongated lever adjacent said free end of said elongated lever.

11. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, a thin element that has a portion thereof disposed in said coin passageway in the paths of some coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, a pivot disposed above the level of said paths of coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, an elongated lever pivotally mounted on said pivot and having the free end thereof located beyond said pivot whereby said coins or slugs pass under said pivot as they move toward said free end of said elongated lever, and a yielding connection between said portion of said element and said free end of said elongated lever whereby said portion of said element can move relative to said free end of said elongated lever, said portion of said element normally being positioned to be engaged by at least a part of the periphery of each of said coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway but being movable out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs, said portion of said element moving relative to said free end of said elongated lever and said elongated lever rotating relative to said pivot as said coins or slugs move said portion of said element out of the paths of said coins or slugs whereby said portion of said element both rotates and translates as said coins or slugs move said portion of said element out of the paths of said coins or slugs, said portion of said element applying a retarding force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug, the retarding force which said portion of said element applies to any un-milled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug being rela tively small and thus being unable to materially reduce the speed of said coin or slug whereby said coin or slug will move past said portion of said element without substantial retardation, the retarding force which said portion of said element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin being materially greater than said retarding force which said portion of said element applies to an un-milled coin or slug and materially reducing the speed of said milled coin, whereby said milled coin will move past said portion of said element being disposed so said retardation force which is applied to said coins or slugs is a reaction force which is generally opposite to the direction of movement which said coins or slugs follow as they approach said portion of said element, said element being longer than it is wide, said element being shorterand thinner than said elongated lever, said elongated lever being di rected generally along the direction of movement followed by coins and slugs approaching said portion of said element but said element being directed generally opposite of said direction of movement.

12. A coin-handling device which comprises spaced walls that define a coin passageway, a thin element that has a portion thereof disposed in said coin passageway in the paths of some coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, a pivot disposed above the level of said paths of coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, an elongated lever pivotally mounted on said pivot and having the free end thereof located beyond said pivot whereby said coins or slugs pass under said pivot as they move toward said free end of said elongated lever, and a yielding connection between said portion of said element and said free end of said elongated lever whereby said portion of said element can move relative to said free end of said elongated lever, said portion of said element normally being positioned to be engaged by at least a part of the periphery of each of said coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway but being movable out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs, said portion of said element moving relative to said free end of said elongated lever and said elongated lever rotating relative to said pivot as said coins or slugs move said portion of said element out of the paths of said coins or slugs whereby said portion of said element both rotates and translates as said coins or slugs move said portion of said element out of the paths of said coins or slugs, said portion of said element applying a retarding force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug, the retarding force which said portion of said element applies to any un-milled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug being relatively small and thus being unable to materially reduce the speed of said coin or slug whereby said coin or slug will move past said portion of said element without sub stantial retardation, the retarding force which said portion of said element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin being materially greater than said retarding force which said portion of said element applies to an unmilled coin or slug and materially reducing the speed of said milled coin, whereby said milled coin will move past said portion of said element with substantial retardation, said portion of said element being disposed so said retardation force which is applied to said coins or slugs is a reaction force which is generally opposite to the direction of movement which said coins or slugs follow as they approach said portion of said element, said element being elongated and resilient to provide said yielding connection between said portion of said element and said free end of said elongated lever, said element flexing as it is engaged by the peripheries of coins or slugs moving in said coin passageway to keep said reaction forces from being sharp and unyielding.

13. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, a thin element that has a portion thereof disposed in said coin passageway in the paths of some coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, a pivot disposed above the level of said paths of coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, an elongated level pivotally mounted on said pivot and having the free end thereof located beyond said pivot whereby said coins or slugs pass under said pivot as they move toward said free end of said elongated lever, and a yielding connection between said portion of said element and said free end of said elongated lever whereby said portion of said element can move relative to said free end of said elongated lever, said portion of said element normally being positioned to be engaged by at least a part of the periphery of each of said coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway but being movable out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs, said portion of said element moving relative to said free end of said elongated lever and said elongated lever rotating relative to said pivot as said coins or slugs move said portion of said element out of the paths of said coins or slugs whereby said portion of said element both rotates and translates as said coins or slugs move said portion of said element out of the paths of said coins or slugs, said portion of said element applying a retarding force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug, the retarding force which said portion of said element applies to any un-milled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug being relatively small and thus being unable to materially reduce the speed of said coin or slug whereby said coin or slug will move past said portion of said element without substantial retardation, the retarding force which said portion of said element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin being materially greater than said retarding force which said portion of said element applies to an tin-milled coin or slug and materially reducing the speed of said milled coin, whereby said milled coin will move past said portion of said element with substantial retardation, said portion of said element being disposed so said retardation force which is applied to said coins or slugs is a reaction force which is generally opposite to the direction of movement which said coins or slugs follow as they approach said portion of said element, the point of connection of said element to said elongated lever being disposed below the level of said pivot, said element having a substantially straight portion which defines a line extending below the level of said pivot and generally parallel to but generally opposite of the direction of movement followed by coins or slugs approaching said portion of said element.

14. A coin-handling device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said element is elongated, and wherein said element is disposed below the level of and generally parallel to said elongated lever.

15. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, an accepted coin chute, a rejected coin chute, a separator intermediate said accepter coin chute and said rejected coin chute, a deflector for coins and slugs, a coin-intercepting element that is thin and that is longer than it is wide and that has a portion thereof disposed in said coin passageway in the paths of some coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, a pivot, a mounting member movably supported by said pivot, said coin-intercepting element being supported by said mounting member, and a yielding connection between said portion of said coin-intercepting element and said pivot whereby said portion of said coinintercepting element can rotate and translate relative to said pivot, said portion of said coin-intercepting element both rotating and translating relative to said pivot as said portion of said coin-intercepting element is moved out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs, said portion of said coin-intercepting element applying a reaction force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug, the reaction force which said portion of said coin-intercepting element applies to any un-rnilled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug being relatively small and thus being unable to keep said coin or slug from reaching said deflector, whereby said coin or slug will engage said deflector and be deflected past one side of said separator and into said rejected coin chute, the reaction force which said portion of said coin-intercepting element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin being materially greater than said reaction force which said portion of said element applies to an un-milled coin or slug, and thus keeping said milled coin from reaching said deflector at a speed and angle which could enable said deflector to direct said milled coin into said rejected coin chute, whereby said milled coin will move past the other side of said separator and into said accepted coin chute, said portion of said coin-intercepting element being disposed so the reaction force which it applies to any coin or slug that is moving through said coin passageway is generally opposite to the direction of movement which said coin or slug follows as it approaches said portion of said coinintercepting element, said portion of said coin-intercepting element being eccentric of said pivot whereby coins and slugs apply substantial rotative forces to said coinintercepting element and thereby move said coin-intercepting element and said mounting member as said coins and slugs engage said portion of said coin-intercepting element.

16. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, an accepted coin chute, a rejected coin chute, a separator intermediate said accepted coin chute and said rejected coin chute, a deflector for coins and slugs, a coin-intercepting element that is thin and that is longer than it is wide and that has a portion thereof disposed in said coin passageway in the paths of some coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, a pivot, a mounting member movably supported by said pivot, said coin-intercepting element being supported by said mounting member, and a yieding connection between said portion of said coinintercepting element and said pivot whereby said portion of said coin-intercepting element can ro ate and translate relative to said pivot, said portion of said coinintercepting element both rotating and translating relative to said pivot as said portion of said coin-intercepting element is moved out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs, said portion of said coin-intercepting element applying a reaction force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug, the reaction force which said portion of said coin-intercepting element applies to any un-milled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug being relatively small and thus being unable to keep said coin or slug from reaching said deflector, whereby said coin or slug will engage said deflector and be deflected past one side of said separator and into said rejected coin chute, the reaction force which said portion of said coinintercepting element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin bing materially greater than said reaction force which said portion of said element applies to an un-milled coin or slug, and thus keeping said milled coin from reaching said deflector at a speed and angle which could enable said deflector to direct said milled coin into said rejected coin chute, whereby said milled coin will move past the other side of said separator and into said accepted coin chute, said portion of said coin-intercepting element being disposed so the reaction force which it applies to any coin or slug that is moving through said coin passageway is generally opposite to the direction of movement which said coin or slug follows as it approaches said portion of said coin-intercepting element, said portion of said coin-intercepting element being eccentric of said pivot whereby coins and slugs apply substantial rotative forces to said coin-intercepting element and thereby move said coin-intercepting element and said mounting member as said coins and slugs engage said portion of said coin-intercepting element, said mounting member also being longer than it is wide, and said coin-intercepting element being sufficiently stiff to transmit forces to said mounting member which will enforce movement of said mounting member as said coin-intercepting element is moved out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs.

17. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, and accepted coin chute, a rejected coin chute, a separator intermediate said accepted coin chute and said rejected coin chute, a deflector for coins and slugs, a coin-intercepting element that is thin and that is longer than it is wide and that has a portion thereof disposed in said coin passageway in the paths of some coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, a pivot, a mounting member movably supported by said pivot, said coin-intercepting element being supported by said mounting member, and a yielding connection between said portion of said coinintercepting element and said pivot whereby said portion of said coin-intercepting element can rotate and translate relative to said pivot, said portion of said coinintercepting element both rotating and translating relative to said pivot as said portion of said coin-intercepting element is moved out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs, said portion of said coin-intercepting element applying a reaction force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug, the reaction force which said portion of said coin-intercepting element applies to any un-milled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug being relatively small and thus being unable to keep said coin or slug from reaching said deflector, whereby said coin or slug will engage said deflector and be deflected past one side of said separator and into said rejected coin chute, the reaction force which said portion of said coin-intercepting element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin being materially greater than said reaction force which said portion of said element applies to an un-milled coin or slug, and thus keeping said milled coin from reaching said deflector at a speed and angle which could enable said deflector to direct said milled coin into said rejected coin chute, whereby said milled coin will move past the other side of said separator and into said accepted coin chute, said portion of said coin-intercepting element being disposed so the reaction force which it applies to any coin or slug that is moving through said coin passageway is generally opposite to the direction of movement which said coin or slug follows as it approaches said portion of said coin-intercepting element, said portion of said coin-intercepting element being eccentric of said pivot whereby coins and slugs apply substantial rotative forces to said coin-intercepting element and thereby move said coinintercepting element and said mounting member as said coins and slugs engage said portion of said coin-intercepting element, said coin intercepting element being elongated and resilient to provide said yielding connection between said portion of said coin-intercepting element and said pivot, said coin-intercepting element flexing as it is engaged by the peripheries of coins or slugs moving in said coin passageway, said coin-intercepting element being fixedly secured to said mounting member adjacent one end of said mounting member.

18. A coin handing device which comprises: spaced walls that define a coin passageway, an accepted coin chute, a separator intermediate said accepted coin chute and said rejected coin chute, a deflector for coins and slugs, a coin-intercepting element that is thin and that is longer than it is wide and that has a portion thereof disposed in said coin passageway in the paths of some coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, a pivot, a mounting member movably supported by said pivot, said coin-intercepting element being supported by said mounting member, and a yielding connection between said portion of said coin-intercepting element and said pivot whereby said portion of said coin-intercepting element can rotate and translate relative to said pivot, said portion of said coin-intercepting element both rotating and translating relative to said pivot as said portion of said coin-intercepting element is moved out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs, said portion of said coin-intercepting element applying a reaction force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug, the reaction force which said portion of said coin-intercepting element. applies to any un-milled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug being relatively small and thus being unable to keep said coin or slug from reaching said deflector, whereby said coin or slug will engage said deflector and be deflected past one side of said separator and into said rejected coin chute, the reaction force which said portion of said coin-intercepting element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin being materially greater than said reaction force which said portion of said element applies to an un-milled coin or slug, and thus keeping said milled coin from reaching said deflector at a speed and angle which could enable said deflector to direct said milled coin into said rejected coin chute, whereby said milled coin will move past the other side of said separator and into said accepted coin chute, said portion of said coin-intercepting element being disposed so the reaction force which it applies to any coin or slug that is moving through said coin passageway is generally opposite to the direction of movement which said coin or slug follows as it appoaches said portion of said coin-intercepting element, said portion of said coin-intercepting element being eccentric of said pivot whereby coins and slugs apply substantial rotative forces to said coin-intercepting element and thereby move said coin-intercepting element and said mounting member as said coins and slugs engage said portion of said coin-intercepting element, said mounting member also being longer than it is wide, said mounting member being directed generally along the direction of movement followed by coins or slugs approaching said portion of said coin-intercepting element but said coin-intercepting element being directed generally opposite of said direction of movement.

19. A coin-handling device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said coin-intercepting element is elongated and resilient to provide said yielding connection between said portion of said coin-intercepting element and said pivot, said coin-intercepting element flexing as it is engaged by the peripheries of coins or slugs moving in said coin passageway to keep said reaction forces from being sharp and unyielding.

20. A coin-handling device which comprises: spaced Walls that define a coin passageway, an accepted coin chute, a rejected coin chute, a separator intermediate said accepted coin chute and said rejected coin chute, a deflector for coins and slugs, a coin-intercepting element that is thin and that is longer than it is wide and that has a portion thereof disposed in said coin passageway in the paths of some coins or slugs moving through said coin passageway, a pivot, a mounting member movably supported by said pivot, said coin-intercepting element being supported by said mounting member, and a yielding connection between said portion of said coin-intercepting element and said pivot whereby said portion of said coinintercepting element can rotate and translate relative to said pivot, said portion of said coin-intercepting element both rotating and translating relative to said pivot as said portion of said coin-intercepting element is moved out of the paths of said coins or slugs by said coins or slugs, said portion of said coin-intercepting element applying a reaction force to the periphery of each of said coins or slugs as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug, the reaction force which said portion of said coin-intercepting element applies to any un-milled coin or slug as said coin or slug moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin or slug being relatively small and thus being unable to keep said coin or slug from reaching said deflector, whereby said coin or slug will engage said deflector and be deflected past one side of said separator and into said rejected coin chute, the reaction force which said portion of said coin-intercepting element applies to any milled coin as said coin moves said portion of said element out of the path of said coin being materially greater than said reaction force which said portion of said element applies to an un-milled coin or slug, and thus keeping said milled coin from reaching said deflector at a speed and angle which could enable said deflector to direct said milled coin into said rejected coin chute, whereby said milled coin will move past the other side of said separator and into said accepted coin chute, said portion of said coin-intercepting element being disposed so the reaction force which it applies to any coin or slug that is moving through said coin passageway is generally opposite to the direction of movement which said coin or slug follows as it approaches said portion of said coin-intercepting element, said portion of said coin-intercepting element being eccentric of said pivot whereby coins and slugs apply substantial rotative forces to said coin-intercepting element and thereby move said coinintercepting element and said mounting member as said coins and slugs engage said portion of said coin-intercepting element, the point of connection of said coin-intercepting element to said mounting member being disposed below the level of said pivot, said coin-intercepting element having a substantially straight portion which defines a line extending below the level of said pivot and generally parallel to but generally opposite of the direction of movement followed by coins and slugs approaching said portion of said coin-intercepting element.

21. A coin-handling device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said coin-intercepting element is elongated, and wherein said coin-intercepting element is disposed below the level of and generally parallel to said mounting member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,453,437 11/ 1948 Hokanson l94-99 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,783 11/1921 Denmark. 731,522 5/ 1932 France. 329,103 5/ 1930 Great Britain. 340,189 12/ 1930 Great Britain.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner 

